Worm-locking means for a slidable side jaw wrench



Feb. 27, 1962 c. L. MGCOMB 3,022,689

WORM-LOCKING MEANS FOR A SLIDABLE SIDE JAW WRENCH Filed June 30, 1960 INVENTOR. Clarence L. M colnb BY B 4- M,Mf 7

attorneys United States Patent 3,022,639 WORM-LOCKING MEANS FOR A SLIDABLE SEDE JAW WRENCH Clarence L. McCornb, P.O. Box 795, Sparks, Nev., assignor of fifty percent to Houston 0. Bender, Birmingham, Ala.

Filed June 30, 1960, Ser. No. 39,885 2 Claims. (Cl. 81-465) This invention relates to worm locking means for a slidable side jaw wrench and more particularly to means for selectively holding and releasing the slidable jaw whereby the wrench is adapted to either turn a nut or move relative thereto at one setting of the wrench.

Another object of my invention is to provide a slidable side jaw wrench of the character designated which may be manipulated by one hand while in use, thereby freeing the other hand of the operator.

A further object of my invention is to provide a slidable side jaw wrench of the character designated which shall be simple of construction, economical of manufacture and one which is neat in appearance.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a slidable side jaw wrench of the character designated which is positive in operation and which requires a minimum of moving parts, thereby providing a wrench which is trouble free in operation.

A wrench embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the wrench;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view;

FIG. 3 is a fragmental view showing the opposite side of the wrench head from that shown in FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2, partly broken away and in section.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, I show a wrench having an elongated handle connected to a head indicated generally at 11. The head 11 comprises a fixed jaw 12 and a movable jaw 13. The movable jaw 13 is provided with an enlarged portion 14 which is adapted to ride in an elongated opening 16 provided in the head 11. In view of the fact that such cooperation between the movable jaw 13 and the fixed jaw 12 is well known in the art, no further detail description thereof is deemed necessary.

The movable jaw 13 is provided with the usual rack 17 and a recess 18 is provided in the head 11 adjacent the rack 17. Mounted for rotation in the recess 18 is a worm 19 having an opening 21 therethrough for slidably receiving a pin 22. A suitable opening 23 is provided through the head 11 for receiving the pin 22 whereby the worm 19 is supported for rotation within the recess 18. One end of the pin 22 is threaded as at 24 for engaging a threaded portion of the opening 23 whereby the pin 22 is secured within the opening 23 in a manner well understood in the art.

As clearly shown in FIG. 3, the worm 19 is of a length less than the length of the recess 18 whereby the worm 19- is adapted for axial movement along the pin 22 relative to the head 11. Surrounding the pin 22 at the side of the worm 19 which is adjacent the movable jaw 13 is a compression spring 26. By providing the compression spring 26 at this side of the worm 19, the worm 19 and the movable jaw 13 are both urged toward closed position. That is, the movable jaw 13 is urged toward the fixed jaw 12.

Secured to the handle 10, by any suitable means, such as by welding at 27, is one end of a leaf spring 23. The other end of the leaf spring 28 is secured, such as by welding at 29, to one end of a latch-like member 31. An inwardly extending fulcrum member 32 is provided inter- 3,022,589 Patented Feb. 27, 1952 "ice mediate the ends of the leaf spring 28 whereby upon depressing the leaf spring 28, the free end of the latch member 31 moves outwardly of the wrench head 11, as shown in FIG. 4. In the drawings, 1 show the fulcrum member 32 as being carried by the end of the member which forms the latch member 31. Preferably, the handle 10 of the wrench is recessed as at 33 whereby the wrench is of a relatively light construction and also the spring member 28 lies partially within the recess 33, whereby the handle requires a minimum of clearance for movement. The free end of the latch member 31 is preferably curved as at 34 whereby it is adapted to surround the compression spring 26 adjacent the worm 19 when no pressure is applied to the leaf spring 28. On the other hand, when pressure is applied to the leaf spring 28, the free end 34 of the latch member 31 moves to the dotted line position, shown in FIG. 4, to thus release the worm 19 and the movable jaw 13 for movement toward open position. That is, when pressure is exerted against the movable jaw 13 of a magnitude to overcome the compression of spring 26, the jaw 13 is moved toward open position. The compression spring 26 exerts sufiicient force to move the movable jaw 13 and the worm 19 toward the opposite end of the slot 18 from the end thereof adjacent the latch member 31. That is, the compression spring 26 urges the jaw 13 toward closed position but does not exert sufficient force to prevent the movable jaw 13 from moving over the corners of a nut when the leaf spring 28 is depressed.

From the foregoing description the operation of my improved adjustable wrench will be readily understood. The wrench may be used as a conventional type adjustable wrench by merely rotating the worm 19 to position the movable jaw 13 at the desired location whereby the iaws 12 and 13 engage the flats of a nut. On the other hand, when it is desired for the jaws 12 and 13 to move over the corners of the nut whereby the nut is not turned as the handle 10 is moved, the leaf spring 28 is depressed whereby the latch member 31 moves to the dotted line position, as shown in FIG. 4. With the latch member 31 out of engagement with the worm 19, the worm 19 and the movable jaw 13 are free to move toward open position when suflicient force is exerted to overcome the tension applied by the compression spring 26. Accordingly, by depressing the leaf spring 28, and then rotating the handle 10, the movable jaw 13 moves relative to the fixed jaw 12 whereby the jaws move over the corners of the nut and do not turn the same. Upon the return stroke, the leaf spring 28 is released whereby the latch member 31 moves to position the free end 34 thereof adjacent the worm 19 to limit movement of the worm 19, thus locking the movable jaw 13 and the worm in the set position as determined by the position of the worm 19 relative to the rack 17.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved adjustable wrench which is simple and trouble-free in operation and one which may be manufactured at approximately the same cost as conventional type adjustable wrenches.

While I show the fulcrum member 32 as being carried by the end of the latch member 31 which is secured to the leaf spring 28, it will be apparent that the fulcrum member 32 could be carried by the leaf spring.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifiv 1 3 w wrench embodying a head having a fixed jaw with a handle formed integrally therewith, a movable jaw slidable in said head and having a rack thereon, there being a recess in said head adjacent said rack, and a worm mounted for rotation in said recess in driving engagement with said rack, said recess being of 'a length to permit axial movementof said worm relative to'said head, the improvement which comprises spring means urging said worm and said movable jaw toward closed position, and

a an elongated latch attached to the handle of the wrench tion while said latch is out ofsaid recess.

2 In a Worm-locking means for a slidable side jaw Wrench embodying a handle, a head formed integrally with said handle and having a fixed jaw, a movable jaw slidable in said head and having a rack thereon, there being a recess in said head adjacent said rack, and a worm' mounted for rotation in said recess in driving engagement with said rack, said recess being of a length to permit axial movement of said worm relative to said head, the improvement which comprises spring means urging said elongated leaf spring attached at one end to said handle and having an inwardly extending fulcrum member intermediate the ends thereof disposed to engage said handle, and an elongated latchmember secured at one end to the other end of said leaf spring with the other end of said position while said latch is'out of said recess, said latch member being urged into said recess by said leaf spring whereby upon depressing said leaf spring said fulcrum member engages said handleand the latch member moves 'worm and said movable jaw toward closed position, an I out of said recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,391,251 Ginsburg Sept. 20, 1921 1,490,903 Anderson Apr. 22, 1924 1,506,362 Carman Aug. 26, .1924 2,569,581 Ryland Oct. 2, 1951 2,733,626 Mesojedic Feb. 7, 1956 2,765,690 Mayer Oct. 9, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Italy 1 Dec. 28, 1956 

